I am a Christian young lady. My goal in life is to give glory to God by enjoying Him forever. He has saved me with His amazing grace and is continually molding me. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:55:00 -0500 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:55:00 -0500 The time has arrived. I have moved my blog to www.simplyvintagegirl.com/blog/ from its previous location here at www.homeschooolblogger.com/yesteryear. My blog will still be able to be accessed from here, but its main location will be there. Here at my new site are:    • Home (main page, linking to my other pages)    • Blog (where you are right now)    • Photography (where I'll post the larger amount of photos)    • Shoppe (which I do not have set up yet) Enjoy looking around! It has taken quite a bit of my time to get this all set up. I enjoyed it, but it is nice to have it finished. Editing this site was the reason why I haven't been posting here lately. I would really appreciate it if you'd update your links and buttons to my blog. I have made a couple of new icons for this site which you can link to me with, they are located here. Now that this is set up, I'll be posting more regularly. Thank you to all of my readers for your patience! Thank you to Jason, Jocelyn, and Eric - without your help, this wouldn't have been possible! God Bless! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/591925/ Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:55:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/591925/ This year we are taking an adventure. Many a time I have started a novel, and never quite made it to page three. My problem has always been that I think of a great beginning, but then I really don't know where the story goes after that, usually too many ideas or not enough. Since Breezy and I would both like to write an adventure novel, we purchased a program that would better help us to plan and complete our novels. We started the curriculum last week - The One Year Adventure Novel by Daniel Schwabauer. The author and teacher of the program is entertaining and the lessons have a great soundtrack. There are 72 lessons, and we are to do about three per week. They are not trying, and nor are they frustrating. He simply starts you at the beginning and sets up a few limitations, and uses examples from classic literature and old films. One thing he shows you is that "Boundaries inspire creativity - not hinder it." To prove the statement above, here are two assignments:      1. In sixty seconds, write a paragraph about anything you want.      2. In sixty seconds, write a paragraph in which the narrator describes            his first blast-off in a rocket ship.   Which was easier? Most likely the one that was more specific and had boundaries in which to write about. In this way, the author gives several boundaries with which to inspire and create a believable story. So far I am really enjoying it, and it only seems to get more interesting as it goes. I have had a difficult time coming up with the story, but I believe that I may have come up with the synopsis. If you don't have any ideas as to what your novel will be about, Mr. Schwabauer gives several ideas for the synopsis. Would you like to write an adventure novel? You can visit the website here, check out a couple sample lessons here, and even request a free DVD with samples here. Are you using a new curriculum this year? You can post about it on your blog, and sign Mr. Linky here. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/587879/ Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:55:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/587879/ Here is a project I thoroughly enjoyed. With a combination of several different items that are easy to come by, you can come up with a wonderfully attractive little notebook to flip through. Supplies: • Tabbed Index Cards - used ten 4"x6" sized cards • Scrapbook Paper - for extra beauty • Two Metal Rings - to bind notebook together • Tape - double-stick tape or adhesive squares • Pen - for writing section name on tabs • Memo Book - one of the dirt cheap ones (same size as index cards - 4"x6") • Brads (optional) - for tacking down small frame • Metal Frame (optional) - found in scrapbooking department, preferably a small size Directions: 1. Cut out scrapbook paper to fit the front of index card. Take cut-out (to fit metal frame, if desired) printed notebook label and stick to the front with adhesive. 2. Press to make sure it stays. 3. Place metal frame on top of label, and poke holes with a needle or other sharp object (please be very careful). 4. Stick brads through holes to secure frame. 5. Fold back the ends of the brads to make sure they stay put. 6. I added three extra brads to the bottom of the cover of my notebook. 7. For each divider index card, you can leave some blank without any decoration, 8. or you can go ahead and stick scrapbook paper down on each one, and even front and back if you wish. 9. Each of the pages and index cards will need to have holes punched in them so that they can be bound with metal rings. Since all three of us ladies (Mom, Bre and I) were making one, it made it easier to make a template and use it on each of the pages that needed punched. The template was a piece of card stock paper cut out the size of the index cards. Then holes were punched 1.5" from the edge on both top and bottom (making two holes). In this way, all we had to do was lay the template on the paper, and with a pen or pencil draw a dot in the center of the hole that had been punched out of the template. 10. Take paper with mark from template, and center the dot in the hole punch. Punch hole. 11. Continue to do this with each page, and when you are finished they should all line up just right, with the holes in the exact same place on each page. 12. Unhook metal rings and poke through holes. 13. Label each section on the tab that sticks out from cards. 14. Rip the paper out of the memo book, and cut of the ripply, bumpy edge. Use the hole punch template to punch holes through lined paper in the right spots. 15. Unhook the metal ring and add the lined paper. This will give thickness and room to write in the notebook. This is of the back and front covers of my little notebook. The tab on the back cover says, The End. On the covers, I scrapbooked on both the front and the back side of the index card. In each section there are seven sheets of memo paper. Momma's is farthest away - Robin's Egg Blue. Breezy's is titled - My Book. And as you've probably noticed, mine is - simply vintagegirl. Both Momma's and Breezy's tabs are alphabetically labeled, as in A, B, C, D, etc. The tabs of my notebook are entitled: Notes, Inspirations, Cards, Contacts, Codes, Colours, Blogs, Photographs, Passwords, and The End. I am planning on adding a few more before "The End", which will say: Scripture, Quotes, Recipes, Important Dates, and Post Ideas. Hope you enjoy making your own little notebook! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/585305/ Fri, 5 Sep 2008 07:38:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/585305/ Since my last post about homeschooling, our agenda has changed a bit. Some curricula have been finished, and others taken their place. Here is our daily schedule, which we are still tweaking to get all the bugs out. AM: 7:00-8:00  :  Showers 8:00-9:00  :  Bible |  Breakfast  | PolishedCornerstones 9:00-10:15  :  CopyCan  |  DayBook  |  Vocabulary  |  Geometry  |  SATQ 10:15-11:00  :  OneYearAdventureNovel 11:00-11:50  :  Biology NOON: 11:50-1:15  :  Lunch  |  CleanUp PM: 1:15-2:30  :  History 2:30-evening  :  GraphicDesign  |  Photography  |  Music  |  Literature  |  Health For the weekly schedule, we are using the Daily Docket (from simplemom.net). This form has a great layout and is nicely organized. If you are wondering what curricula we are using for these subjects, they should be listed in my post about our agenda. For this coming year, I pray that it will be God glorifying, and His name praised in all that we do. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/584366/ Wed, 3 Sep 2008 07:48:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/584366/ This is a portrait of my great-grandmother Carmella, she was my father's father's mother. She enjoyed playing games, was an upholsterer (her husband was one, too), and was faithful in praying for the salvation of her grandchildren. Before Breezy and I were born, she crocheted us both baby blankets so that Daddy's children would have blankets made by her (she made them before we were born because her arthritis was gradually getting worse). My daddy spent a lot of time with her when he was young, and when she moved to Florida, he visited her every year. I don't remember her very well, as she died when I was young, but Momma says that we would've really enjoyed her company and playing games with her. Below is a project I created with her picture, as well as instructions if you would like to make one with your own special photo. Supplies: • Stiff Material - we painted gesso on muslin (but acrylic should work just as well) • Wire - small piece, I used 20 gauge • Embellishments - I used eyelets and ribbon (pictured are eyelets [those are what the metal tools are for] and hemp cord) • Photo - one with special meaning or a story behind it Directions: Layout the hanging in the way you would like it to look. I used different sizes of the painted material to give the project a bit more interest, and on one of the pieces I wrote my great-grandmother's name. Stick down each layer (I used both glue and adhesive squares), adding embellishments as you go. When it is finished, insert the hook. If the project is heavier on one side, try to put the hook where it will cause the rest to hang straight. Otherwise, just center the hook. Here is how I put on my hook: Bend the wire, so that is is easy to squeeze together when poked through. With a needle, poke a hole in material, large enough for the wire to go through. Do this on both ends of the wire. Poke wire through, and bend the back all the way up. This is the finished product, and I plan on changing the ribbon to a light blue to give the piece a bit more color. Hanging on my wall in my room. I hope to make a few more of these with old photos of special family members. I wish I had the opportunity to get to know her better, and remember her well, but that was not the Lord's will. From what I've heard she was a fun lady to be around, a wonderful great-grandmother. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/581817/ Tue, 2 Sep 2008 19:24:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/581817/ Just recently, we changed our cooking schedule to a much more efficient one. This schedule was inspired by the Brown family. At the UC&F conference a couple weeks ago, Momma and I were talking to Mrs. Mary Brown. The subject of cooking came up, and she told us that each lady in the house has an assigned day to cook. To spread the work around amongst us ladies, we decided to assign a day to cook for each of us. So far this has worked quite nicely, the schedule is below. Sundays - Crockpot meal, soup, or something prepared beforehand on Saturday - often we have company Mondays - Me Tuesdays - Go to Granny's Wednesdays - Momma Thursdays - Breezy Fridays - Pizza (we usually trade making the pizza off and on each week) Saturdays - Brunch (all pitch in) and Leftovers Just this week, I experienced firsthand the not-well-timed-dinner. The meal was Beef Enchiladas and Mexican Rice - one of my favorite meals. I started and ended up finishing the rice before the Enchiladas even entered the preheated oven. It was a bit stressful because I like things to be perfect, and done at just the right time. Yet again, I had to realize that I'm not perfect, not everything is going to perfect, and that's all right. Everything turned out fine because all I had to do was reheat the rice, and there was really nothing to be stressed out about. I'm not sure how many times I'll have to learn this over and over again. Thankfully, with this schedule, I will be cooking a couple meals per week, and by doing this I'll get more experience in scheduling each part of the meal at the right time. For others' Homemaker in Training Thursday posts, please visit Eyebright's blog. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/581673/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:19:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/581673/ . . . the Drews family in Texas, their little 3yo son drowned last night. You can read more about their sweet little boy, by clicking here. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/580899/ Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:03:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/580899/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/578782/ Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:17:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/578782/ With this project you can make your own personal portrait book or scrapbook. Supplies: - Cheap notebook - one of the back-to-school 5¢ deals - Scrapbook paper or Material - for accents - Photos - for memories - Scissors - for cutting notebook back - Double-Sided Tape or Glue - for attaching paper and pictures - Ribbon (optional) - to keep book closed with a bow - Stapler (optional) - for stapling ribbon onto book Directions: 1. Cut out the backside of the notebook (it looks like thin cardboard) off the notebook. This is a type of chipboard, and will be used as the binding of the little book. 2. Cut a piece 10" x 2" from the chipboard notebook back. 3. Fold it back and forth 2" at each fold, that way there are ten 2" square pages (front and back). 4. Scrapbook on each little page. If you wish, you can leave one of the outer-facing ends for the book's title. Optional: 5. Cut a piece of ribbon that is long enough to wrap once around the book, and then tied in a pretty bow. 6. Staple ribbon down, on to one of the middle outer-folds. This will keep the ribbon in it's place, but is still adjustable. For this little portrait book, I left off the ribbon, and only finished one side. My reason for this is that it will sit open on my dresser. These are my parents when they were young. My daddy is sitting on a bookshelf, legs crossed, smiling for the camera. The picture on the right is Momma, posing sweetly for her kindergarten school photo. In the next fold of my book are two photos. On the left is of my daddy's mother, and the other is of my momma's mother, my granny. I plan on making another one that will reside next to this one on my dresser. It will have both of my parents when they were young (with different photos), but the second fold will be of their fathers. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/574984/ Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:53:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/574984/ In the past, we have grown our own corn, and it was wonderful to have fresh-tasting corn all-year-round, having been preserved by the freezer. This year we are just buying a dozen or two now and then from the local farmers, and so far it seems like this is a good corn year here in Indiana. Sometimes while shucking corn, there is an unexpected guest eating the kernels, but we can't blame them, the corn tastes so good! An interesting fact about corn: When the corn stalks are in need of rain, their leaves stiffen up, and point up to the sky instead of hanging at the sides. God designed them this way so that the stalks can gather more raindrops that will then roll down the leaves and down to the base of the plant. In this way the plant is nourished with as much water as possible, making its produce more delicious. Has anyone else been enjoying fresh corn on the cob lately? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/573331/ Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:17:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/yesteryear/573331/